The people of Peru are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about Peru isn't Machu Picchu or even the extraordinary ceviche — it's the people. In Lima and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Machu Picchu. Amazon access became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and Peru delivers it more than most places.